Photo Credit: Michael Cohn / CC by 4.0
Rod Stewart was rushed to the hospital to undergo a medical procedure, forcing him to postpone his Cincinnati concert at the last minute.
Rod Stewart was hospitalized for a medical procedure, forcing him to postpone his Cincinnati concert at Riverbend Music Center at the last minute. The 81-year-old legend was scheduled to hit the stage on Sunday, August 9, but news broke of his hospitalization just hours before showtime.
“Due to an unforeseen but minor medical procedure that required prompt attention, Rod Stewart’s performance tonight in Cincinnati has been postponed,” read the venue’s statement. “Rescheduling is currently underway, with additional information to follow on Tuesday. All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date. Rod is expected to make a quick recovery and looks forward to returning to Cincinnati.”
The news follows Stewart’s cancellation of his Niagara Falls concert in the hours leading up to the show. But fans have been quick to rally behind the singer.
“Sadly, Rod, like the rest of us, is not forever young,” wrote one fan. “I hope that he can recover and rebound to hit the tour again.”
His next scheduled performance is on August 11 in Cleveland and on August 15 in Kansas City, Missouri. However, the singer has seen numerous show cancellations and postponements over the past several months, including the aforementioned Niagara Falls show. That concert has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 4, 2027, with purchased tickets from the previous date to be honored for the rescheduled date.
The cancellation follows Stewart’s nixing of a June performance due to his diagnosis with an acute upper respiratory infection that led to laryngitis. He faced criticism over that one, since he was photographed attending a World Cup match just hours later.
He also canceled two shows in May while recovering from a sinus infection. However, considering the singer’s advanced age, the number of shows he has been scheduled to perform has been remarkable.
It also raises questions about whether Rod Stewart and other older legends are overexerting themselves. Stewart is far from alone in his need to reschedule many shows, with other older acts, such as Lionel Richie and ZZ Top, having done the same in recent weeks.